Sarasota Florida & Sarasota Beaches Florida...

Visit one of the best beaches on West Coast Florida with us!

Sarasota Florida is a place that Angie's parents raved about so many times, so we decided to tag along and see what all the fuss was about.

They were right! Sarasota has some of the best beaches on West Coast Florida. So, we want to share our experience in Sarasota and show you all the beauty, fun, sun, peace, and more that Sarasota beaches Florida have to offer.

We will also take you to neighboring areas such as Siesta Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key, and Ft Myers Florida. So, pack your bags because once you realize how great Sarasota Florida is, you'll be ready to go!!!

We headed down to Sarasota Florida in late August (yes Hurricane season), but we got lucky. Those battling Hurricane Katrina weren't so lucky though and our hearts go out to them.

Remember, times to travel are very important. It was quite hot, but our goal for the week was to relax and spend as much time in or near the water as possible. They say that in the winter, all the snowbirds venture down to Sarasota Beaches Florida to perch themselves in their Florida beach real estate for a few months.

Overall, this place is great for anyone looking to relax, enjoy minimal crowds, beautiful Florida beaches and surroundings, and very nice people.

We happened to drive down in a fully loaded Yukon. I don't care what anyone says, but 16 hours in a car, even a luxurious one, is quite a long time. Consider that when you decide to travel.

Look into all your options and go with what is best for your discount Florida vacations - also consider gas (which got to $3.39 per gallon) when deciding whether to drive or fly. Fortunately we had a DVD player that kept me busy for most of the trip to Sarasota Florida.

Movies that we watched include, National Lampoon's Vacation, Blow, Summer Rental, Forrest Gump, and The Great Outdoors! Some classics to say the least.

Click here for some of the best travel movies ever

Where we stayed in Sarasota Florida.

We were actually on one of the keys just over the bridge from Sarasota Florida called, Lido Key - right in between Siesta Key and Longboat Key. You had to pass through a neat area known as St. Armands Circle which had shops, restaurants, and various services.

Our condo was a Florida time share that Angie's parents own. They go once a year, pay a small management fee, and can transfer it to multiple spots. The condo we stayed at was Limetree Resorts and was a perfect home for the week.

In fact, most of the area was homes and condos. I don't think I even saw a major hotel chain- this is why we mention many types of places to stay on your Florida vacation.

We had a huge pool in the middle of a horshoe-shaped building. We were on the 3rd floor (top) overlooking the Gulf. We had a cool little nook for a to sit out on, listen to music, read the news, enjoy drinks, and take in the view - definitely one of the best beaches on West Coast Florida!!

The condo had a nice sized front room, a good sized kitchen with everything, one bathroom, and a bedroom. They were out of two bedrooms, so Angie and I had to settle for the pull out bed, which wasn't bad.

The good part was that we could cook in, grill out around the pool, or go out to eat- having the option is always nice and saved money to do other things. I'll tell you, we said we could've stayed in Sarasota Florida for a month with how nice our location was.

The Beaches

The beaches were great. Beautiful off-white sand beaches that were great to walk on. Seagulls were lined up everywhere and we had fun feeding them each morning on our deck.

Due to the storm we had 4-6 foot waves that we and surfers enjoyed. By the last day the waters were back to normal- looked like glass and very calm.

Siesta Key's beach was really cool- voted #2 in Florida by the travel channel as one of the best beaches in Florida and for good reason.

Crystal-white sand and big beaches overlooking the Gulf. Lifegaurd trucks and towers everywhere- reminded me of Baywatch. Plenty of beautiful people and lots of fun.

Sarasota Florida Restaurants and Drinks.

Here is a list of restaurants that we tried and enjoyed immensely...

• Tommy Bahamas- St. Armand Circle. You'll feel like you're in the Islands. The food was great (I had the Mahi and Ang had the Sanibel Stuffed Chicken- Yum!!!). It was a bit higher priced- $20+ a plate, but well worth it.
  
  
• Daiquiri Deck- This was in Siesta Key. We were wanting something low key with good beer and burgers. That is just what we got. We sat out on a covered patio, ate, and then the girls went up and down the strip doing some shopping.
  
  
• The Hungry Fox - This little spot in St. Armands Circle was so good for breakfast, we ate there 3 different mornings. Great coffee, nice view of the circle, and killer food (I recommend the Hungry Fox Deluxe Omelet).
  Update 2008: We have heard the Hungry Fox has closed. There are plenty of other tasty restaurants in St. Armands Circle.
  
  
• Barnacle Bills - Voted best in Sarasota Florida for seafood, so we had to check it out. I have to eat Crab Legs at least once, so that is what I got. The place looked kind of like a Chines restaurant, but don't let that fool you. The food was excellent. Mouth watering crab legs filled me up in a hurry. This is on Route 41- the major road in Sarasota Florida.
  
  
• Pinchers - This was in Ft Myers Florida. We took the hour and a half drive from Sarasota Florida because Angie's parents couldn't stop talking about this spot. Sat right on the intercoastal, you could dock your boat and have a bite, or stay at the hotel it was attached to. They had a great happy hour- 2 for 1 drinks and the Fish n Chips was the best I'd ever had- beats Mom's frozen fish n chips!!
  
  
• Cha Cha Coconuts, The Columbia, Barnies (in the circle)- Barnies had great coffee that I enjoyed every morning. Cha Cha's had a great happy hour ($ drinks from 4-7 pm), and The Columbia we didn't get to enjoy, but wanted to mention because it was highly recommened to us.

Things to Do in Sarasota Florida.

Besides great food, plenty of shopping in the circle and Sarasota Florida in general, fun, and sun, we didn't do much more than relax all week.

We drove around the keys, got some wonderful pictures, did some swimming & snorkeling, and hung out by the pool and beach.

We did go boating one day which was something you should do at least once. Take a ride on the Gulf with us on our Florida charters day trip!

We took in a couple of sunsets that were out of this world. People lined up and down the beaches of Sarasota Florida to enjoy this miraculous event each evening.

We also walked the beaches and the areas around Sarasota Florida. Marina Jacks was a great place to rent a boat, get some exercise, take out a jet ski, dock your own boat, take in a sunset by the bridge, or admire the many boats and yachts people keep there throughout the year. You can also take a day/night cruise. Enjoy drinks, the view, food, and fun! Won't want to miss!!

We were also recommended to check out the Ringling Museum and the Botanical Gardens. For spectacular art, history, and plant life, these two museums will provide you a sense of wonder & beauty Sarasota offers!

Also, if you are into water activities, fishing, or golfing, Sarasota Florida has all that too! Don't think there is nothing to do there- we just decided to take it easy as our lives back home are as hectic as they can be!

All in all it was a wonderful week. We did just what we wanted to do- relax and bring back information and pictures of Sarasota Florida & the Sarasota Beaches Florida.

Will we go back? I would say yes! Sarasota Florida is a great family vacation spot and nice for people of all ages looking to enjoy the Florida beaches, sun, atmosphere, shopping, excellent food, the area, & great people!!!

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